Ubuntu System Settings

Introduction

System settings in Ubuntu provide a centralized way to configure and customize your operating system. Whether you're setting up a new installation or fine-tuning your existing setup, understanding how to navigate and modify these settings is essential for any Ubuntu user. This guide will walk you through the most important system settings in Ubuntu, showing you how to access them and explaining what each one does.

Accessing System Settings

In Ubuntu's GNOME desktop environment, system settings can be accessed in several ways:

1. Click on the system menu (top-right corner) and select "Settings"
2. Press the Super key (Windows key) and type "Settings"
3. Run gnome-control-center in the terminal:

bash

gnome-control-center

Core System Settings Categories

Wi-Fi and Network

The network settings allow you to connect to and configure wireless networks, VPNs, proxy settings, and more.

Viewing Network Information

You can view your current network configuration using the ifconfig or ip command:

bash

ip addr show

Output example:

1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: wlp2s0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 00:11:22:33:44:55 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.1.5/24 brd 192.168.1.255 scope global dynamic noprefixroute wlp2s0
       valid_lft 86398sec preferred_lft 86398sec
    inet6 fe80::42:a8ff:feb4:31e9/64 scope link 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

Network Configuration Files

For more advanced configuration, you can edit network settings directly in configuration files:

bash

sudo nano /etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml

Bluetooth

The Bluetooth settings allow you to connect peripherals like keyboards, mice, headphones, and speakers. You can also:

• Toggle Bluetooth on/off
• Make your device discoverable
• View paired devices
• Connect/disconnect devices

For command-line Bluetooth management, you can use the bluetoothctl tool:

bash

bluetoothctl

Inside the bluetoothctl interface:

power on
agent on
scan on
# Wait for devices to appear
pair 00:11:22:33:44:55
connect 00:11:22:33:44:55

Background

Change your desktop background and lock screen:

• Browse the default wallpapers
• Select custom images
• Adjust appearance settings

You can also change wallpaper via the terminal:

bash

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-uri file:///path/to/image.jpg

Displays

Configure monitor settings, including:

• Resolution
• Orientation (normal, rotated)
• Refresh rate
• Multi-monitor arrangement
• Scale (helpful for HiDPI displays)

Example: Setting Resolution via Command Line

bash

xrandr --output HDMI-1 --mode 1920x1080

Default Applications

Set which applications open for different file types and protocols:

• Web browser
• Email client
• Calendar
• Music player
• Video player
• Photos

Configure default applications via terminal:

bash

# Set Firefox as default browser
xdg-settings set default-web-browser firefox.desktop

User Accounts

Manage user accounts on your system:

• Add/remove users
• Change passwords
• Configure automatic login
• Change account types (standard vs. administrator)

Adding a New User via Terminal

bash

sudo adduser username

Adding a User to the sudo Group (Admin Rights)

bash

sudo usermod -aG sudo username

System Administration Settings

Date & Time

Configure time settings:

• Set time zone
• Enable/disable automatic time synchronization
• Change date format

Setting Timezone via Terminal

bash

sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/London

Software & Updates

This crucial setting panel lets you:

• Check for and install system updates
• Configure update behavior (automatic vs. manual)
• Add or remove software repositories
• Install proprietary drivers

Updating via Terminal

bash

sudo apt update        # Refresh package lists
sudo apt upgrade       # Install available updates

Privacy & Security

Configure privacy settings:

• Screen lock settings
• Location services
• File history & trash
• Diagnostics data

Setting Automatic Screen Lock via Terminal

bash

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.screensaver lock-delay 300

Power Management

Configure power settings:

• Screen brightness
• Screen timeout
• Power button behavior
• Sleep/suspend behavior

Example: Setting Screen Timeout via Terminal

bash

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.session idle-delay 900

Printers

Add and configure printers:

• Add local or network printers
• Share printers on the network
• Set default printer
• Configure printing options

Adding a Printer via Command Line

bash

sudo lpadmin -p printer_name -E -v ipp://printer.local/ipp/print -m everywhere

System Information & Resource Monitoring

About

View system information:

• Ubuntu version
• Hardware details (RAM, CPU, etc.)
• Disk space
• Device name

Viewing System Information via Terminal

bash

# Show Ubuntu version
lsb_release -a

# Show hardware information
sudo lshw

# Show disk space
df -h

System Monitor

To keep track of system resources, Ubuntu provides the System Monitor application. You can also access similar information via terminal:

bash

# Display process information
top

# Alternative process viewer
htop

# Memory usage
free -h

# Disk usage
du -sh /path/to/directory

Example output from free -h:

              total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           7.7G        2.1G        3.9G        210M        1.7G        5.1G
Swap:          2.0G          0B        2.0G

Configuring System Settings via Terminal

While the graphical settings app is user-friendly, Ubuntu's command-line interface provides powerful tools for system configuration. For many settings, you can use the gsettings tool:

bash

# List all available schemas
gsettings list-schemas

# List all keys in a schema
gsettings list-keys org.gnome.desktop.interface

# Get the value of a key
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme

# Set the value of a key
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme 'prefer-dark'

Dconf Editor

For more advanced settings management, you can use the dconf-editor:

bash

# Install dconf-editor
sudo apt install dconf-editor

# Launch dconf-editor
dconf-editor

This provides a hierarchical view of all system settings that can be modified.

Creating Custom System Settings Profiles

For system administrators who need to configure multiple Ubuntu systems, creating custom configuration profiles can save time:

Using Ansible for Configuration Management

yaml

- name: Configure Ubuntu Desktop Settings
  hosts: workstations
  tasks:
    - name: Set dark theme
      dconf:
        key: "/org/gnome/desktop/interface/color-scheme"
        value: "'prefer-dark'"
        
    - name: Set default wallpaper
      dconf:
        key: "/org/gnome/desktop/background/picture-uri"
        value: "'file:///usr/share/backgrounds/company-wallpaper.jpg'"

Creating a Custom Settings Script

bash

#!/bin/bash
# custom-settings.sh

# Configure system settings
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme 'prefer-dark'
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-uri 'file:///usr/share/backgrounds/wallpaper.jpg'
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.screensaver lock-delay 300

# Configure software sources
sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo add-apt-repository multiverse

# Install common software
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y firefox vlc gimp

This script can be distributed and run on new systems to quickly apply your preferred settings.

Troubleshooting System Settings

Sometimes, settings may not apply correctly or may cause unexpected behavior. Here are some troubleshooting steps:

1. Reset specific settings to default:

   bash

   gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme

2. Reset all GNOME settings:

   bash

   dconf reset -f /org/gnome/

3. Check for configuration errors:

   bash

   dconf-editor

   Look for keys with bold text, which indicates they differ from default values.

Summary

Ubuntu System Settings provide a comprehensive way to customize and configure your operating system to meet your specific needs. Whether you prefer using the graphical interface or command-line tools, Ubuntu offers flexible options for managing your system.

By understanding these settings, you can:

• Configure network connections and devices
• Customize appearance and behavior
• Manage user accounts and security
• Monitor system resources and performance
• Automate configuration across multiple systems

Additional Resources

• Ubuntu Desktop Guide
• GNOME System Settings Documentation
• Advanced Ubuntu Configuration Techniques

Exercises

1. Use the terminal to change your desktop background to a different default wallpaper.
2. Create a simple bash script that configures at least three different system settings.
3. Add a new user account to your system and grant them administrator privileges.
4. Use gsettings to find and change the mouse cursor size.
5. Configure your system to automatically lock after 2 minutes of inactivity.